Searching Far and Wide

[intricate_engineer]

Glen was creating a prototype for a new gate design. It was meant to be affordable and provide quick transport between individual homes. She tests several objects and a rat and everything seems to be working.

She steps through. Instead of finding herself in the room next door, she finds herself standing on a sidewalk in an empty city. The buildings are tall and perfect, colorless with doorways far too tall for any human. The roads have no straight lines and twist in on themselves. There is no life or sound.
Glen tries to stay calm. She begins to walk along the road, randomly opening doors and exploring buildings that are as silent as the rest of the world.

She opens a door that she hopes will lead onto a roof and is instead met with warmth, and soft noise, and color.

Comments

[intricate_engineer]

Glen looks at the pile doubtfully, then says, "Could I also have a bag?"

[alicornucopia]

Bag!

[intricate_engineer]

"Thanks!"
Glen begins to carry the pile up to her room.

[the_very_best]

"You're going to make the gate up in your room?"

[intricate_engineer]

"I think so. It would be difficult to do it down here, and I don't want anyone stumbling through and getting hurt if it doesn't work."

[the_very_best]

"How big a concern to that? I'm stumble-prone."

[intricate_engineer]

"No greater than the likelihood you would stumble through a normal doorway, and then only once I turn it on. You don't have to stand near it when I'm doing that. It might be a problem if a lot of people are walking around and don't know what's going on though."

[the_very_best]

"Okay, good."

[intricate_engineer]

"Besides, I want to spread out. I think doing that here would be rude."

[the_very_best]

"Fair enough!" And Bella follows Glen up.

[intricate_engineer]

Glen opens the door, holding the bag in her teeth while she fumbles for the key.

[the_very_best]

The key opens the door.

[intricate_engineer]

Glen carefully deposits the stuff onto the ground and looks around to see if there is a table.

[the_very_best]

More of a desk.

[intricate_engineer]

A desk will work. Glen places some of the more delicate components onto the desk. She holds one up for Bella to see.

"This will be the computer and is what I couldn't build no matter how hard I tried. I'm glad Bar sells them."

[the_very_best]

Nod. "What does a gate need a computer to do?"

[intricate_engineer]

"Hold the attachment to the other end and calibrate for any differences between the two universes. I wrote most of the program, so I should be able to alter it assuming this place isn't constantly moving relative to every other dimension. I'm hoping it's just the door that's changing."

[the_very_best]

"That was my impression."

[intricate_engineer]

"I'm going to go get a few more things."
Glen heads back down to Bar.
"What are my chances of being able to do some welding?"

[alicornucopia]

I imagine this question has to do with your skill at welding. You are allowed to weld in your room and I can provide the supplies.

[intricate_engineer]

"I have experience. Can I have the supplies please, and protection for Bella too?"

[alicornucopia]

Bar provides.

[intricate_engineer]

"And the room won't burn down from the sparks?"

[alicornucopia]

If you'd like a different, more workshoplike room, with fewer articles of furniture I'll have to add to your tab should they be damaged, that can be arranged, but you are not going to set the building on fire with a welding torch.

[intricate_engineer]

"I'd love to know how you managed that, but maybe a workshop is be a better idea."